This is part 6 of a 9-part series. View the entire series here.
“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. – Matthew 6:16-18 NLT
Introduction
As the sun begins to sink behind the skyscrapers, a man slowly makes his way down the city sidewalk. The messenger bag slung over his shoulder lightly taps against his leg with every step. It had been a tough day at the office. The man wonders how his boss could yell for so long without catching his breath. But he brushes off the thought as a bird chirps overhead.
The city bus drives past and he watches it speed down the block. He laughs to himself––for years he rode on the very same bus. It got him home twice as fast; most days he’d be sitting on his couch before dark. But he found that the quicker commute robbed him of time to decompress, which led to a shorter fuse with his wife and no more mental energy for the kids.
So for now, he’s decided to forgo the bus ride––not because it’s bad, but because he needs a momentary pause. Walking home is a time to remove excess chatter and replace it with reflection. A chance to compose his thoughts. An opportunity to enjoy the world around him.
One day he’ll get back on the bus. But not before his heart is changed.
Seen and Unseen
Fasting should be a personal time for you and God. While it’s okay to let a few close people know when you’re fasting, the idea is to keep your time of fasting private. It’s not for show. It’s for attuning your heart and mind to God’s voice.
When we act like we’re struggling through fasting, we make it about us and what we do. But the purpose of fasting is to remove something from your life as a reminder of your dependency on God. Whether it’s food or your phone, replace the time you would normally give to these things and give extra attention to your time with God as He transforms and renews your heart.
Fasting as a Discipline
When fasting from food, it’s important to practice the discipline in a healthy and safe manner. Plan out a reasonable time to abstain from eating, and break when that time ends. If it’s not safe for you to fast from food (for medical or mental health reasons), it’s perfectly acceptable and encouraged to find something else to fast from.
Look for something in your life that you would normally devote daily time to and put it on pause––and then use that time to seek God’s will for your life. Just like we would with food, it’s important we set a start and end date. By incorporating non-food related rhythms into our fasting, this discipline can be practiced as frequently as we need or want. Just remember, whatever you’re fasting from, the goal is to see how God is at work in your life more clearly.
